Rotary engine.



' Patented May 22, I900.

C. LORENZ.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed. June 3, 1899.1

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

ERS co. PNOTOLITHD WASHINGTON n c (No Model.)

No. 650,079. Patented May 22, I900.

' C. LORENZ.

ROTARY ENGINE. Application filed June a, 1899.}

4 Shee ts8heet 2 (No Model.)

Q/m/lm eooeo %WWM Patented May 22, i900.

C. LORENZ.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Appiicabion flied Jpne 3, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

No. 650,079. 'Patented May 22; 1900.

C LORENZ. ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application flleq June 8, 1899.) v (No Model.) 4 SheetsShee't 4wi/twaooeo gm awtoz @513 awozmu a m: cams PETERS co, PriommmouWASHINGTON a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CARL LORENZ, OF REDFERN, NEIV SOU'III ALES.

ROTARY-ENGINE.

SPEGIFI CATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,079, dated May 22,1900.

Application filed June 3,1899. Serial No. 719,321. (No model.)

To all whom' it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL LORENZ, residing at Redfern, near Sydney, inthe Colony of New South Wales, have invented certain new I and usefulImprovements in Rotary Engines; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertainstomake, use, and practice the same.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines.

The object of my invention is to provide a rotaryengine (a) in which thesteam or other motive power will be utilized to the greatest advantage;(1)) that will be easily reversed; (c) in which full advantage is takenof the expansion of steam or other motive power; (0?) which will workwithout the slide-bars, cross-head connecting-rods, and crank-axlenowinuse on reciprocating engines; (6) which will exhaust only once ineach revolution; (f) which for a given power will occupy less space thanthose now in use, and (g) which will be light and cheaply constructed.To obtain these results, I construct an engine with an annular chamberinstead of a cylinder; but as this annular chamber performs the samefunctions as the cylinder of a reciprocating engine I have hereinaftercalled it a cylinder. The cross-section of this annular chamber orcylinder may be of any suitable shape, either square, oval, or, as shownin the accompanying drawings, circular. This annular chamber is soconstructed that an opening or annular slot is left in the innerthat isto say, the smallest-circumference, the sides of which extend to thecenter and form bearings for the main shaft. The space between thesesides is occupied by a disk which is concentrically keyed to the mainshaft and whose periphery closes the annular slot in the cylinder.Attached to the periphery and forming part of this disk and placed atright angles thereto is a piston-head which fits inside the cylinder, sothat as the piston revolves in the cylinder the disk and shaft revolvewith it.

found desirable. In order thatthe steam or other motive power whenintroduced into the cylinder may cause the piston to revolve un- Themain shaft, disk, and pis- I ton-head may be constructed in one piece,if

der full pressure, a shut-off valveis provided, which opens to let thepiston-head pass and closes immediately after it has passed, thusforming a closed chamber behind the pistonhead. This shut-01f valve isoperated by the steam or other motive power, the supply be ing governedby the action of the main valve, which is operated by the eccentricattached to the main shaft. This shut-oif valve may be placedhorizontally, as shown, or may be placed vertically. To insure that theshutoff valve will under all circumstances openat the proper time,asafety-guard is provided, which in the event of the shut-off valvefailing to open will be operated by means of a cam fitted on the mainshaft, thus providing against any possible failure of the valve. Inorder to reverse the engine, I provide a reversing-valve which whenoperated by reversing-lever admits the motive power into the cylinder onthe opposite side of the pisten, the said lever at the same timereversing the eccentrics, exhausts, and safety-guard, all of which arehereinafter fully described. My engine maybe made with one cylinder, asshown; but I prefer to use two or more on the same shaft to insuresteady running of the machinery and in order that full advan- 8o tagemay be taken of the expansion of steam, which in this specification Idesire to include compressed air or any other motive power. Ifconsidered desirable, my engine may be made compound.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View in side elevation,illustrating my improved engine. Fig. 2 is a transverse sec tional viewthereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the shut-otf-valve cover withsteam chest cover removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating thecylinder and its adjuncts. Fig. 5 is a view of the inner face of theshut-off valve. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are details.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the body of the engine.

2 is a shut-off-valve cover. I

3 and 3 are exhaust-chambers.

at is the exhaust-outlet. 10:)

5 is the steam-chest cover.

6 is the steam-valve spindle.

7 is the main steam-supply.

8 is the crank, by means of which the steamvalve 6 is operated by theeccentric-rods 9 10 is a shut-oif-valve spindle.

11 is a reversing-valve.

11 is the spindle of reversing-valve 11.

12 is a crank by means of which the re versing-valve 11 is operated.

13 is a pipe carrying steam to cylinder.

14 is a pipe carrying steam to cylinder when engine is reversed.

15 is a toothed wheel keyed on shut-0E- valve spindle 10, which engagesa toothed quadrant 16, which is connected by means of a connecting-rod17 to the safety-.guai'd'IBQ 19 is the main shaft, to which is keyed acam attachment 19.

20-is an air-cushion the piston of which is connected with the quadrant16 for the purpose of cushioning the shut-0E valve. The toothed quadrant16 and wheel 15 may be done away with and a crank keyed onto theshuto'ifi-valve spindle and connected direct totheypiston ofcushioning-cylinder'20 sub- 21; is; the

stituted if the shut-ofi valve is constructed toclose on the left sideinstead of on the right, as shown:- .1. i

1 i reversing-lever, which operates -j spindle l l 'of-reversing-valve11, eccentric lever.

re'\ersi ng- -link 9 exhaust-valves 3" and 3,- andsafetyguard 18 bymeans of the connecting-rods 21 21 21, the safety-guard being operatedby the lower end of the reversing- -22i's the main supply-port invalve-face.

23 is a corresponding port in valve.

24 is'a port through which the steam enters pipe 13 from steam-chest.

- 25 is a port through which the steam enters pipe 14 when engine'isreversed. 1

26 is a port in reversing-valve 11, through which steam is admitted toport 25-when the valve isreversed.

- Y 27 is a port in main valve which admits the steam through port 28 inthe valve-face to open the shut-01f valve.

29 is an exhaust for the steam which is used to'ope'rate the shut-offvalve.

29 is an. exhaust-recess in under side of main valve. I

30 is an approximately-circular shut-0E valve mounted on a spindle 10.

31, 32, and '33 are expansion-rings let into the shut-0E valve for thepurpose of making steam=tight joints. Said shut-0E valve is rovided withan annular flange 30, broken away at 31 and revolving in arecess 32, as

' shown v the aperture in'cylinder 46.

7 36 is the peripheryof disk 36, which closes The piston is formed onthe periphery of the disk 36 and at right angles to it and revolves inthe cylinder 46.

37'is the steam-chest, in which main' valve 38 is located.

38 is a valve-face. 42 43 4445 are expansion-rings let into the walls ofthe chamber in which the disk 36 re volves; 7 When valve 30 is shut, asshown, the cham her or recess 34, which is constructed on the facethereof, extends from A to B, the fixed stop occupying the space from Oto B, so that in this position of the-valve 30 the chamber 34 is on theleft-hand side of the stop; but when the valve is revolved and. in anopen position the side A of chamber 34 meets the side 0 of stop and theside-B travels to'the point D, thus forming the chamber 34 on'theright-hand side of the stop. This action of the shutoff valve 30 iscaused by. the alternate admission of the steam through ports 22 and 28,as hereinafter described. I

'13 and 14* arethe main steam-supply ports into cylinder, only one ofwhich is open at a time, 13 being connected with pipe 13 and 14 withpipe 14, Fig. 3.

1,47 is the piston-head, which forms part of and is 'at right angles tothe disk 36. 47 is the piston-ring, of which there may be one or more.

X and Y are the main exhaust-ports, only one of which is open at a time.y

It is not essential that the valve 30 should occupy so much space in therecess 30 as shown. It would be sufficient if it extended a littlebeyond the expansionfstrip 10 is an aperture which fits overshut-offvalvespindle 10.

49 is a fixed stop which may be an integral part of the cover. This stopis shown'in position by dotted lines'in Figs. land 50 is anexpansion-strip.

The method of operating my invention. is i as follows: Assuming that thepiston 47 has just passed the shut-off valve 30-that;is to say,in theposition shown in Fig. 4- -the steamyalve now admits steam through ports23 and 22, which forces the shut-0E valve 30 into the position shown inFigs. 3 and 4, and the steam filling the chamberor recess 34 thus formedon one side of the stop 49 passes through the port 24, pipe 13, and 1ntothe cylinder through port 13, which is between the piston in its presentposition and the valve 30, which is now shut. It is clear from this thatno steam can pass through the ports 23 and 22 into the cylinder withoutfirst shutting the valve 30. After the steam thus'admitted into thecylinder has moved the piston, say, ninety de- .grees or about half arevolution, the steamvalve cuts off the steam and the pistonis nowpropelled by the expansion ofthe steam about another forty degrees; buta little before the piston has arrived in this position the steam inFig. 1 and marked 18, oneend of which is ing at the same time throughexhaust 29. The

opening of the valve 30 occurs the moment the piston 47 has passed themain exhaust X. The piston now travels past the valve 30, andimmediately it passes the steam from opening side of stop exhauststhrough port 29 and at the same time the steam is admitted through ports23 and 22, thus closing the valve 30 and entering the cylinder asbefore, thus completing a revolution. In order to provide against anypossible failure of the steam to open the valve 30, I provide asafety-guard, as shown attached to the lower end of the reversinglever21 for the purpose of altering its position when the engine is runningthe reverse way. The other is attached by means of a connecting-rod 17to a lever-crank 16% which has on one end a toothed quadrant 16, whichengages a toothed wheel 15, keyed to spindle 10 of valve 30, while theother is'attached to the piston of a cushioning-cylinder 20.

In order to operate the safety guard, a cam attachment 19 is keyed tothe main shaft in such a position that should the steam fail to open thevalve the cam will press on the safetyguard and by lowering theconnecting-rod 17 cause the quadrant 16 to revolve the spindle 10 and soopen the valve 30. The action of opening the shutoff valve by the steamis so arranged as to be slightly ahead of the cam attachment on mainshaft, so that the mechanical movement only comes into operation if thesteam fails to open the valve. The cushioning-cylinder20 is provided forthe purpose of cushioning the shut-off valve and prevent any knockagainst the fixed stop 49 asit opens and shuts.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaidinventioh and in what manner the same has to be performed, I declarethat what I claim is 1. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annularchamber or cylinder, a recess being formed in said casin g, a shaftmounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-head secured tothe periphery of said disk and fit-- ting in said chamber or cylinder, arotary shut-off valve having a flange working in said recess, and a stoparranged to engage the face of said valve and limit the movement thereofsubstantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or cylinder, ashaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-headsecured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary shut-off valve having anannular flange and provided with a chamber or recess in its face, and afixed stop arranged to engage the walls of said chamber or recess;substantially as set forth.

3. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or cylinder, arecess being formed in said casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, adisk carried thereby, a piston-head secured to the periphery of saiddisk, a 1'0- tary shut-off valve provided with a chamber or recess inits face and having an annular flange fitting in said recess, saidflange being ranged to engage the walls of said chamber or recess, asteamrhamber, a rotatable steamvalve located in said steam-chamber andhaving ports therein arranged to admit steam to said chamber or recesson either side of said stop, and means for operating said steamvalve;substantially as set forth.

5. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamberor cylinder,ashaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-headsecured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary sh ut-off valve providedwith a chamber or recess in its face and having an annular flangefitting in said recess, said flange being broken away, a fixed stoparranged to engage the walls of said chamber or recess, asteam-chamber,a steam-valve located therein and provided with portsarranged to admit steam to either side of said stop, and means forautomatically operating said steam-valve; substantially as set forth.

6. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamberor cylinder, ashaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-headsecured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary shut-off valve providedwith a chamber or recess in its face, a steam-chamber, a fixed stopsecured to the Wall of said steamchamber adjacent said shut-off valve,ports being formed in said wall on each side of said stop, and asteam-valve located in said steamchamber and having ports designed toregister with said former ports; substantially as described.

7. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or cylinder, ashaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-headsecured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary shut-off valve providedwith a chamber or recess, a fixed stop therefor, a steam-valve arrangedto admit steam to either side of said stop and provided with anexhaust-groove, and means for operating the said steam-valve;substantially as set forth.

8. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or cylinder, ashaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-headsecured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary shut-0E valve providedwith a chamber or recess, a fixed stop therefor, a steam-valve having amain port arranged to admitsteam on one side of said stop and anauxiliary port arranged to admit steam to the other side of said stop,an exhaust-groove being arranged adjacent said auxiliary port, and meansfor automatically operating said steamvalve; substantially as set forth.

9, In a'rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or cylinder, ashaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a

piston-head secured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary shut-offvalve having a chamber formed therein, means for automatically operatingthe same, a reversing-valve having ports communicating with said chamberand arranged to admit steam to either side of said piston, and means foroperating said reversing-valver; substantially as set forth.

10. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or'cylinder,a shaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-headsecured to the periphery of said disk ,'a rotary shut-0E valve having achamber or recess, means for automatically operating the same,steam-pipesv leading to said chamber or cylinder and arranged toregister with said chamber or recess, a rotatable reversing-valve havingports arranged to register with said pipes and said chamber or recess,whereby steam is admitted to either one from said chamber or cylinder;substantially as set forth.

11. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or cylinder,a "shaft mounted in said casing, a disk carried thereby, a

piston-head secured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary shut-01fvalve havinga pinion keyed to its spindle, a toothed quadrant pivotallymounted on said casing, a safety-guard, a rod connecting said quadrantand said guard, a cam on said shaft adapted to engage said guard andmeans for simultaneously shifting said guard and reversing the engine;substantially as set forth.

12. 'In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular chamber or cylinder,a shaft mounted in saidcasing, a disk carried thereby, a piston-headsecured to the periphery of said disk, a rotary shut-off valve having apinion keyed to its spindle, a toothed quadrant meshing therewith, acushioning-cylinder secured to said casing, a piston working therein,and connected to said quadrant, a safetyguard, a pitman connecting saidguard and said quadrant, means for automatically operating said guard,and a lever for simultaneously reversing the engine and shifting saidguard; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

CARL LORENZ.

Witnesses:

M. H. HARMS,

BALDWIN VALE. I

